2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Wisconsin

[Sports Management](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/sports-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong sports management education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sports management students.
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2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Wisconsin
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the sports management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Sports Management Schools
University Of Wisconsin Parkside tops our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools in Wisconsin. Set in the rural area of Kenosha, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,270, compared with $17,429 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,349 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Parkside generally make around $30,655. Set against $25,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Platteville. Students from in state pay about $8,644 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,603 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $46,027. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Platteville admits about 89% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh one of the best values for sports management. Set in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,532, compared with $16,446 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $24,619. Early-career sports management graduates make about $50,590. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh admits about 86% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the best values for sports management. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $29,866. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in sports management will find it at Ripon College, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Ripon, Ripon College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,900. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $29,768. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Wisconsin Lutheran College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Wisconsin Lutheran College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,110. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Wisconsin Lutheran College earn a median of $54,908 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Wisconsin Lutheran College admits about 78% of applicants.
Lakeland College landed the #7 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the rural area of Plymouth, Lakeland College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,396. Students borrow a median of $24,225 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of Lakeland College earn a median of $41,427 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Marian University Wisconsin earned the #8 position for value in sports management this year. Set in the city of Fond Du Lac, Marian University Wisconsin is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $35,204 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Marian University Wisconsin generally make around $72,102. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Marian University Wisconsin admits about 75% of applicants.
Carroll University came in at #9 for value in sports management this year. Located in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,890 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Sports Management graduates of Carroll University earn a median of $33,333 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Carthage College landed the #10 spot for sports management value this year. Carthage College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kenosha. Students from in state pay about $38,750 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Carthage College generally make around $36,638. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
More Sports Management Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.